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STRANGE INTERLUDE

But I think what I've said has planted it in her mind as a
possibility.

MARSDEN

(Thinking suspiciously.)

Is this Doctor her lover? . . . trying to pull the wool over
my eyes? . . . use me to arrange a convenient triangle for
him? . . .

(Harshly - but trying to force a joking tone.)

Do you know what I'm inclined to suspect, Doctor? That
you may be in love with Nina yourself!

DARRELL

(Astonished.)

The deuce you do! What the devil makes you think
that? Not that any man mightn't fall in love with Nina.
Most of them do. But I didn't happen to. And what's more
I never could. In my mind she always belongs to Gordon.
It's probably a reflection of her own silly fixed idea about him.

(Suddenly, dryly and harshly)
And I couldn't share a woman - even with a ghost!

(Thinking cynically)

Not to mention the living who have had her! . . . Sam
doesn't know about them . . . and 1*11 bet he couldn't
believe it of her even if she confessed! . ,,

. MARSDEN

(Thinking baffledly)

Wrong again! ... he isn't lying . . . but I feel he's hid-
ing something . . . why does he speak so resentfully of
Gordon's memory? . . . why do I sympathize? . •»

(In a strange mocking ironic tone.)



	STRANGE INTERLUDE But I think what I've said has planted it in her mind as a possibility. MARSDEN (Thinking suspiciously.) Is this Doctor her lover? . . . trying to pull the wool over my eyes? . . . use me to arrange a convenient triangle for him? . . . (Harshly - but trying to force a joking tone.) Do you know what I'm inclined to suspect, Doctor? That you may be in love with Nina yourself! DARRELL (Astonished.) The deuce you do! What the devil makes you think that? Not that any man mightn't fall in love with Nina. Most of them do. But I didn't happen to. And what's more I never could. In my mind she always belongs to Gordon. It's probably a reflection of her own silly fixed idea about him. (Suddenly, dryly and harshly) And I couldn't share a woman - even with a ghost! (Thinking cynically) Not to mention the living who have had her! . . . Sam doesn't know about them . . . and 111 bet he couldn't believe it of her even if she confessed! . ,, . MARSDEN* (Thinking baffledly) Wrong again! ... he isn't lying . . . but I feel he's hid- ing something . . . why does he speak so resentfully of Gordon's memory? . . . why do I sympathize? . •» (In a strange mocking ironic tone.)